Top Tweets for #ThomasKeys

about 22 hours ago

Source: UK PULSE “Only 4 days separated #ThomasKeys from his 21st birthday. Instead of celebrating it with his family, #Britain was preparing to bring him home beneath the Union Flag.” 🕯🇬🇧 Aged 20, Lance Corporal Thomas Richard Keys was the youngest of six Royal #MilitaryPolicemen who lost their lives at Majar al-Kabir in Iraq on 24th June, 2003. Yet his age told only part of his story. By then, he was already a trained paratrooper 🦅 a physical training instructor and an experienced soldier who had served in #SierraLeone and #NorthernIreland. Tom came from Llanuwchllyn in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Wales. He had joined the Army in 1998, while still only sixteen, and began his career with the 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. Earning the right to wear the maroon beret demanded physical strength, determination and the ability to keep going when exhaustion told others to stop. After serving with the Parachute Regiment, he chose a different military path. In January 2002, he joined 156 Provost Company of the Royal Military Police. The change of cap badge did not take away the qualities that had made him a paratrooper. He remained fit, disciplined and operationally experienced, while taking on the demanding responsibilities of a military policeman. Those who served with him knew a young man who was much more than a uniform. The Ministry of Defence described Tom as a popular soldier who played football for his company. He was fully parachute trained and had qualified as a physical training instructor—an achievement that placed him in a position where others looked to him for energy, example and encouragement. He had also deployed to Jamaica on exercise. In early 2003, 156 Provost Company deployed to Iraq with 16 Air Assault Brigade during Operation Telic. Military police personnel were performing difficult work among communities still living through the instability that followed the invasion. Their responsibilities included supporting local policing, maintaining order and helping rebuild the fragile structures of civilian security. On 24 June, Tom was inside an Iraqi police station at Majar al-Kabir with Sergeant Simon Hamilton-Jewell, Corporals Russell Aston, Paul Long and Simon Miller, and Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde. A hostile crowd surrounded and attacked the building. All six Red Caps were killed. A later inquest ruled that the men had been unlawfully killed. The loss devastated 156 Provost Company. Its commanding officer, Major Bryn Parry-Jones, described the six men as highly professional soldiers and policemen who were extremely popular and well liked. For such a small and closely bonded unit, their deaths left an absence that could never truly be filled. For Tom’s family, there was no military language capable of softening what had happened. A son who had joined the #Army as a teenager, earned his parachute wings and already served on several operations would never walk through their door again. His #funeral, conducted with full military honours, took place at St John’s Church in Barmouth on 14th July, 2003. He was later laid to rest in the Barmouth and Llanaber Joint Burial Ground. Tom’s death would continue to resonate far beyond his unit and his Welsh community. His father, Reg, became a prominent voice for bereaved military families and later stood against Prime Minister Tony Blair in the 2005 elections. But behind the public debate remained a deeply personal truth: a family had lost its 20-year-old son, and five other families had suffered beside them. Thomas Keys never reached his 21st birthday. Yet in his short life, he had already worn the maroon beret, served his country across several operations & earned the respect of those beside him 🎖️ His years were few. His service was not. 🇬🇧 Young in years, steadfast in service - Lance Corporal Thomas Richard Keys, 156 #ProvostCompany, #RoyalMilitaryPolice. Killed in action at Majar al-Kabir, Iraq, 24 June 2003, aged 20 #ukmilitary #LestWeForget #BritishArmy #Hero #Warrior

Cairnlodge1's tweet photo. Source: UK PULSE

“Only 4 days separated #ThomasKeys from his 21st birthday. Instead of celebrating it with his family, #Britain was preparing to bring him home beneath the Union Flag.” 🕯🇬🇧

Aged 20, Lance Corporal Thomas Richard Keys was the youngest of six Royal #MilitaryPolicemen who lost their lives at Majar al-Kabir in Iraq on 24th June, 2003. Yet his age told only part of his story. By then, he was already a trained paratrooper 🦅 a physical training instructor and an experienced soldier who had served in #SierraLeone and #NorthernIreland.

Tom came from Llanuwchllyn in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Wales. He had joined the Army in 1998, while still only sixteen, and began his career with the 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. Earning the right to wear the maroon beret demanded physical strength, determination and the ability to keep going when exhaustion told others to stop.

After serving with the Parachute Regiment, he chose a different military path. In January 2002, he joined 156 Provost Company of the Royal Military Police. The change of cap badge did not take away the qualities that had made him a paratrooper. He remained fit, disciplined and operationally experienced, while taking on the demanding responsibilities of a military policeman.

Those who served with him knew a young man who was much more than a uniform. The Ministry of Defence described Tom as a popular soldier who played football for his company. He was fully parachute trained and had qualified as a physical training instructor—an achievement that placed him in a position where others looked to him for energy, example and encouragement. He had also deployed to Jamaica on exercise.

In early 2003, 156 Provost Company deployed to Iraq with 16 Air Assault Brigade during Operation Telic. Military police personnel were performing difficult work among communities still living through the instability that followed the invasion. Their responsibilities included supporting local policing, maintaining order and helping rebuild the fragile structures of civilian security.

On 24 June, Tom was inside an Iraqi police station at Majar al-Kabir with Sergeant Simon Hamilton-Jewell, Corporals Russell Aston, Paul Long and Simon Miller, and Lance Corporal Benjamin Hyde. A hostile crowd surrounded and attacked the building. All six Red Caps were killed. A later inquest ruled that the men had been unlawfully killed.

The loss devastated 156 Provost Company. Its commanding officer, Major Bryn Parry-Jones, described the six men as highly professional soldiers and policemen who were extremely popular and well liked. For such a small and closely bonded unit, their deaths left an absence that could never truly be filled.

For Tom’s family, there was no military language capable of softening what had happened. A son who had joined the #Army as a teenager, earned his parachute wings and already served on several operations would never walk through their door again. His #funeral, conducted with full military honours, took place at St John’s Church in Barmouth on 14th July, 2003. He was later laid to rest in the Barmouth and Llanaber Joint Burial Ground.

Tom’s death would continue to resonate far beyond his unit and his Welsh community. His father, Reg, became a prominent voice for bereaved military families and later stood against Prime Minister Tony Blair in the 2005 elections. But behind the public debate remained a deeply personal truth: a family had lost its 20-year-old son, and five other families had suffered beside them.

Thomas Keys never reached his 21st birthday. Yet in his short life, he had already worn the maroon beret, served his country across several operations & earned the respect of those beside him 🎖️

His years were few. His service was not.

🇬🇧 Young in years, steadfast in service - Lance Corporal Thomas Richard Keys, 156 #ProvostCompany, #RoyalMilitaryPolice. Killed in action at Majar al-Kabir, Iraq, 24 June 2003, aged 20

#ukmilitary #LestWeForget #BritishArmy #Hero #Warrior

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Blue Witch @Red2005Hart

about 10 years ago

#Regkeys #ThomasKeys Army parents agony Lance Corporal Thomas Keys who was killed aged 20 in Iraq #BlairLied

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